ness of his situation, but the dread of committing himself with a forward simpleton of this character, would have been quite sufficient to put him upon his guard, even if his affections had not been totally and inalienably 'engaged by one, in comparison with whom a much higher-gifted woman than Adeline would have shown but as a dowdy and a hilding.

With the generous design of bringing forward Adeline's solitary talent, Helen turned the discourse upon music, and declaring there was nothing she herself liked better than a simple song, invited her sister to oblige her by singing the new ballad she had lately learnt. An instant and gratified assent being given to this proposition, Adeline adjusted herself to her guitar, making the customary averments about a bad cold, horrid hoarseness, &c.; but instead of the requested ballad she selected one of the songs that Reuben had formerly praised in the summer-house, trusting that the tones of which he had once expressed such vehement admira tion could not fail to awaken pleasant recollec tions, and impress him with an undiminished

delight. Such, however, is the power of association, that the voice and the melody which had charmed him when heard under circumstances that imparted to them a species of romance, now that they emanated from one whose understanding he could little respect, and whose object in selecting that particular strain he could not but observe, seemed to have lost a great portion of their attraction, and to have degenerated into very common-place and unimpressive music. He was, moreover, gazing all the time upon He. len's lovely and intelligent features, and while thus occupied, there seemed to be no room, either in his soul or his senses, for any extraneous gratifications.

Upon all occasions Helen, actuated by the same kind motive, endeavoured to exhibit her sister to as much advantage, or rather to as little disadvantage, as possible, by screening her deficiences and mistakes, and giving her private hints to avoid certain peculiarities of manner which she knew to be much more likely to alienate than conciliate their visitor. The effect, however, did not always answer to the

the

benevolence of the intention. Although the younger sister, Adeline had been presented at Court, and had been much more introduced into gay world than Helen, advantages which, in her opinion, rather qualified her to give than to take advice. · Laisse moi faire, je l'en prie,” she exclaimed, "with all the romance of which you accuse me, I am not going to congedier my lover. Courtship, I have heard, is the happiest period of our lives; and if my Arcadius wishes to prolong it, pourquoi non? There can be no doubt of his affections, and he would not pay me these daily visits unless he meant shortly to fall at my feet, lay his hand upon his heart, and declare himself in due form." So entirely had this infatuation possessed her, that no pointed attentions to Helen, no trifling slights to her self, (for Reuben was incapable of any marked avoidance,) could shake her conviction of his purpose; in her conversations with her mother she gave her to understand that he conducted himself as her acknowledged lover; I while by significant hints and giggles among her female acquaintance, she seemed to admit

rude or

that there was something on the tapis which might lead to a change of her name and her departure from Harpsden Hall.

Helen, in the meanwhile, was in a state of mind much less enviable than Adeline's. By interfering in her sister's behalf she had brought herself into such a habit of communion with Reuben, and obtained such an insight into his superior endowments both of head and heart, that she took an increasing pleasure in the office, and became unusually animated and eloquent whenever she was called upon to exercise it. She looked forward with expectation to the days when he had promised to call, and found an unaccountable monotony and heaviness in those when he was absent. On the mornings of his promised appearance she bestowed a critical attention upon her toilette, to which she had been hitherto unaccustomed. Her ordinary occupations became tiresome and distasteful to her; if she attempted to paint she spoiled every thing that she commenced; she was restless and could settle to no regular employment; her spirits failed her; she avoided as much as

possible the society of her sister, seeking the solitude of her own chamber, and frequently sighing, though she knew not why. In short, she had been endeavouring to kindle the fire of love for Adeline until she had unconsciously in flamed her own heart, as the nymphs of Calypso toyed with Cupid until they caught the tender contagion of his power.

of

When she could no longer conceal from herself the change that had taken place in her spirits and feelings, she for a considerable time remained blind to its real origin, attributing it to her anxiety for Adeline, whose peace mind she believed to be at stake; and indig nantly repelling the idea that there could be any thing selfish or interested, still less any thing of love, in the sensations she experienced. Good Heavens! the very thought was degrading, and brought a deep blush of indignant preposterous to anger upon her cheek. It was

entertain it under any circumstances, but in the peculiar nature of her situation with Adeline, the supposition was a million times more injurious. Adeline's was an avowed attachment